Fuel feed and power control device for gas turbines



Nov. 10, 1953 E. o. WIRTH ETAL 2,658,566

FUEL FEED AND POWER CONTROL. DEVICE EoR GAS TUREINES Filed Aug. 20, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l Novi 1Q, 1953 E. o. wlR'TH ETAL FUEL. FEED AND POWER CONTROL DEVICE FOR GAS TURBINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1945 ATTP/VEY Patented Nov. 10, 1953 essere FUEL FEED AND POWER CONTR-OL DEVICE FOR GAS TURBINES Emil 0. Wirth and Frederik Barfod, South Bend, Ind., assignors to Bendix Aviation Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application August 20, 1945, Serial No. 611,599 1e Cairns. (ol. 15s-36.4)

This invention relates to a fuel-feed and power control device for gas turbines, jet propulsion engines and like power plants utilizing the force or energy produced by the combustion and expansion of precompressed air. It is particularly adapted for jet propulsion power plants for aircraft wherein the air is compressed into a chamber constituting part of a generator, at which point it is heated by the combustion of fuel. The air and products of combustion are then passed through a turbine for driving a compressor and then discharged through a reaction jet to propel the aircraft. The invention may also be used in power plants for aircraft wherein a gas turbine drives the propeller of the aircraft and may in addition drive a compressor for supplying air to a combustion chamber or generator, and wherein also the exhaust from the turbine may be discharged through a reaction jet to obtain a propulsion eiect augmenting that of the propeller.

When a centrifugal or axial flow compressor is connected to and rotated in synchronism with a gas turbine driven by the energy of expanded gases produced in a combustion chamber or burner in which the air is compressed, at a given entering air density the weight of air flowing will vary approximately with the R. P. M., the pressure of compression will vary approximately with the square of the R.. P. M., and the power required for compression and accompanying air flow will vary approximately with the cube of the R. P. Ivi. When power is controlled by regulation of the fuel feed7 the rate of feed required will vary approximately with the R.. P. lVi, and accordngly, if the fuel feed is selected, the turbine speed will either increase or decrease until a speed corresponding to the selected fuel feed is obtained.

The present invention provides an extremely simple power control arrangement for gas turbine engines and jet propulsion may be effected by connecting a power control lever or equivalent device for controlling the quantity of fuel supplied to the engine, said fuel being supplied under a pressure head which is proportional to the square of engine speed. With this arrangement, the pilot advances or retracts the control lever to obtain a selected speed, 'whereupon the engine speeds up or slows down to a speed corresponding to the rate of fuel feed set by the control lever.

t is also desirable to provide some means for compensating for changes in entering air density irrespective of what type of power control sys-- tem is adopted, since less fuel is required to drive a turbine and compressor at a given speed upon a decrease in density. If the rate of fuel feed were not varied as a function of entering air density engine speed would increase with each decrease in density at any given position of the power control lever, while an engine acceleration at altitude would result in excessive turbine temperatures. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide means or automatically regulating the device to compensate for changes in entering air density.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fuel-feed and power-control system for power plants of the type specied wherein the rate of fuel feed supplied to the engine may be controlled by a single lever at all conditions of engine operation.

A further object is to generally improve and simplify fuel-feeding systems for power plants of the type specified.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Figure l is a substantially central longitudinal sectional view oi a jet propulsion power plant or engine incorporating a fuel-feed and power-control system in accordance with the present invention; andr Figure 2, an enlarged detail View in section, and to some extent diagrammatic, of the fuel-metering and power-control unit.

Referring first to Figure 1, an aircraft engine nacelle is indicated at l0 and has supported therein as by means of ring l2 and brackets I4, a jet propulsion engine or power plant, generally indicated at I6, and including an outer casing I8, flared or curved at its front extremity to denne an air inlet 2E) and contoured at its rear extremity to define a reaction tube 22. A rotary air compressor 24 forces air into an annular chamber 2B which supplies it to a plurality of peripherally spaced cylinder-like generators or burner chambers 28 containing burners 3d having air-inlet holes 32 in the peripheral walls thereof. The burners 30 discharge into a collector ring 34 arranged to deliver the hot air and products of combustion through a set of stationary directing blades 36 against the blades 38 of a turbine rotor 4i). The turbine t and air compressor 2t are mounted on a common shaft d2 rotatably supported by a bearing dll. Air entering the inlet 26 is picked up by the compressor, which acts to direct the air into annular chamber 26 and generators 28 and thence into the burners it through 3 holes 32, where heat is added by the combustion of fuel, there being an igniter 3| for each burner. The expanded air and products of combustion are directed against the blades 33 of the turbine 43 to drive the compressor `and are then discharged to the atmosphere through the reaction4 tube 22 to effect propulsion of the plane. if desired, propulsionof 'the plane -`may also be accomplished by a propeller attached to the forward portion 46, of shaft 42, although if desired the propeller mey` be mounted on a shaft, drivengbyjshaft 42,A thrcraughV The fuel lme'tering,

suitable reduction gearing. and power-control unit, generally indicated at 48, is adapted to Control the 'now 'of lio'ufid fuel.;`

to the burners 30, and is The fuel system Referring now to Figure 2, any suitable source outlet conduit 5'4"'to a Vpassage 56 which cofn' municates 'with a passage'58 connected with a chamber 6'0 .in a casing 62 of a fuel flow control device, indicated'generally at 64. The fuel pressure in said chamber 6`0fis at all times substan tially the "same as that fin passage58, this pressure in said chamber and passage being hereinafter referred toas pressure'forcontrol pressure.A In the control device one side of chamber'iill is closed by a flexible'diaphragm 66 which is marginally clamped between thefcasing 62 and a shoulder of body 68' of A.the device. y'Opposite the diaphragm 65'is a diaphragm 10 spaced from said diaphragm 66.v On the side of 'the diaphragm 66 `opposite theA chamber 60 'is a second 4fuel chamber, i|2'. fitting' T4 is screwed into a'bore provided inthe tbody v(i8 and includes an orice 16 "which is controlle'dfb'y 'a valve 18 having a fluted stem whichy permits fuel to'flow'therepast, there beinga valvetip '|79 which cooperates with the orifice "16 -to control the *fuel flow through said orifice. Fuel passing throughoriiice I6 senters a fuel conduit 80 which is connectedwith auel noz'zlev'82 of the. burnervf30. A .spur'ingl 84A ,is lo- Kcated ina recess 486 .in the'tting `14 andlre'austs retainer is'ecuredtovalveJ0, said 'spring being adapted to 'urge the valve 'in the vopening direction. The diaphragm 66'is provided, on its opposite side, with a second spring'retainer, l90, "secured to the central portion of said diaphragm by a' rvets which is adapted to abut against the adjacent end of the valvel' and form a oneway connection therebetween. The y' diaphragm lV Vis also provided'withspring retainers or reinforcing washers on opposite sides ,thereofsaid Washers being lindicated gelieltlly eti/95` 'and '98. A sprngf|00 reacts'between the retainersfSD and 96 for 'urging the valve in the `closing direction. :A 'stud |02 is'secured Vto thediaphrag'm '10 and the 'free l-end of said memberis adapted to engage the adjacent end of rivet 94 as kwill behere- *inafter more ymuy described. The stud luz and spring retainers 96 and 98 'are secured'todia- 'phragib 1n by turning'bver the-buter 'ena 'mi of "a -reduced diameter 'portion f the `istud, v'w'rl'iehV between the bottom bf saidfrecess 'anda spring 4 extends through said diaphragm 10 and spring retainers.

A casing |06 encloses a chamber |08, vented at ||0, which has an outwardly extending tubular portion having a threaded bore in which is received a bearing ||2 within,,whichl anidle cut olf plunger '|'|4 }is adaptedto'slid'e.v The plunger has an annular fiange"||6 adjacent 'its inner end to limit outward movement thereof and said in- 'ner end comprises a stop against which the turned 'overportion |04 of stud |02 abuts.

Arestriction or jet |20 is provided between the passages 56and 58 through which fuel is adapted to flow.' VPassage 56 is provided with a branch passage |22 which communicates with the 'impller chamber' 24 of a pump, indicated generally at.'|26. This pump, as shown, is of the centrifugal type which includes an impeller |28 driven 'b'y the engine through a shaft |30 which is suitably connected, by any well known means, with said engine which rotates said impeller in direct proportion to the R.Y P. M. thereof and is adapted to build up 'an outlet pressure which provides 'the metering head for the system.

'The outlet of pump |26 is connected to a passage |32 communicating with the chamber 12 by way of a'meteringrestriction or jet |34 therein, the pressure of fuel in said chamber 12 being 'at all times substantially the same las that in the passage |32 posterior to 'the `jet |34 and this pressure in chamber '|52 and passage |34 posterior to jet '|34 will be hereinafter referred to as pressure B or vmetered fuel pressure.

n The passage |32 anterior to the metering orince |34, is connected with passage v58, there beying a restriction or orifice |38 provided yin the conduit |36. It is to be notedthat the fuel pressure in that portion of conduit |36 which is on the centrifugal pump side -of vorifice |38, that is between orice |33 and conduit |32, is at all times substantially the same as the pressure in that 4portion of the passage |32 anterior to jet |34 andthe pressure in said portions of the conduit and passagewll lbe hereinafter referred to as -pressur'e C or the metering head.

Means for varying the effective Vsize of orifice |38 comprises a valve |40 controlled by a device indicated generally 'at |42, which isA responsive to barometrio pressure. The fvalve '|40 is connectedto or formed integral with a valve stem A| 44 slidable in a bore provided therefor in body 68, said stem |44 being connected at its outer end to a plate |45 forming one wall of a sealed expansible bellows |48 enclosed by a casing |50 which is supported on the body 68 by any suitable well known means such vas screws, not

shown. The interior chamber |52 of casing |50 isconnected to atmosphere vby ports |54 vs'o that the ,bellows expands or contracts in accordance withvsaidpr'essureand thus regulates the effec- `tivesize of the orifice |30 according thereto. A

drain, 'for draining off fuel which might seep past valve stem |44,c'o'mprises an annular recess |56 connected to a vrdrain tube |58 leading Vto any suitable .point rof disposal such as the fuel tank. A `li`ght 'compression spring |60 also may be provided within the bellows, an arrangement that is particularly desirable if the bellows is partially lor completely evacuated, to extend the bellows to -a normal balanced 'position 'and it may be `desirable forvsaid spring and bellows to be so calibrated and arranged that the valve 14h win be Ynormally closed at sea level pressure.

A'It is also to be noted that the pressure inbranch passage |22 is fat all times'substantially-the same as that in passage 56 and the pressure in said passages will be hereinafter referred to as pressure D or pump inlet pressure.

The device also includes manual control means which, as shown, comprises a control unit, indicated generally at |62, which is adapted to control a passage |64 which connects the passage |32 and passage 58 together. The passage |64 communicates with the passage |32 anterior to the metering jet |34, and said passage |64 is provided with a restricted orifice |66 adapted to be controlled by a valve |68 and a stem |10 slidable in a guide |12. The unit |62 includes chambers |14 and |16 divided by a diaphragm |18 to which the outer end of the valve stem is attached. A passage |00 connects the passage |32 with the chamber |16 and the pressure of fuel thereby transmitted acts on the diaphragm to urge the valve in the opening direction. Chamber |14 is vented to atmosphere at |62 to relieve any undesirable pressures that might otherwise develop. The unit |62 also includes an outwardly extending portion |94 having a bore therein which slidably receives a plunger |66 which is shown as being in substantial alignment with the valve stem |10. The inner end of the plunger has a spring retainer |88 secured thereto for reception of one end of a spring |90 having its other end received in a spring retainer |92 secured to the diaphragm |18 by the overturned end |94 of a reduced end Y.

portion of the valve stem |10. The plunger |86 is adapted to be engaged by a laterally extending arm |96 of a lever |98 pivoted at 200, said lever |98 being adapted to be connected with any suitable control means which may be a manually actuated lever or the like, not shown, operated by the pilot or operator of the airplane.

Movement of the lever |98 in the counterclockwise direction will effect closing of valve |10 which may be variously positioned by the manual control means for controlling the value of the control pressure and therefor the quantity of fuel delivered to the burner 30.

The lever |98 also includes an arm 202 which extends laterally thereof opposite the arm |96 for effecting fuel cut o, movement of said lever |98 in clockwise direction effecting inward movement of the plunger l I4 which will move the stud |02 toward the valve 18 until said stud contacts the valve. Further inward movement of the lever a Operation During normal operation, fuel is supplied under pressure to the inlet 56 of' the centrifugal pump |26 by means such as the fuel pump 50 although other means may also be employed to supply fuel to said inlet 56. Fuel received by pump |26 is discharged under an increased pressure into passage |32 from which it flows through metering orifice |34 to chamber 12, past valve 18 which is opened by the pressure of fuel in chamber 12 acting on diaphragm 66, into conduit 90, and thence to the nozzle 82 of the burner 30.

Due to the inherent characteristics of the centrifugal pump |26, the pressure C at the outlet of said pump |26 will be greater than the pump inlet pressure D by an amount which is directly proportional to the square of the speed of the pump and consequently directly proportional to the square of the engine speed.

During operation, with the valve |40 closed and valve |68 in a partially open position, fuel at pressure C will flow through the calibrated restriction |66 into passage 58 and then through orifice to the pump inlet |22. As a consequence the pressure in passage 58, herein referred to as control pressure A, will be of a value intermediate the fuel pressure C and pump inlet pressure D, and its value relative to the pressures C and D will depend upon the effective size of orifice |66 relative to the area of orifice |20. For any xed setting of valve |68, pressure A will remain greater than pressure D and less than pressure C by amounts representing constant percentages of the difference between pressures C and D. Thus, if orice |655 has an effective area equal to orifice |20, pressure A will remain substantially half Way between pressures C and D irrespective of variations in speed of pump |26. It therefore follows that the differential between pressures C and A will likewise vary as the square of engine speed, for a fixed setting of valve |68.

Since the springs 84 and |00 are substantially in balance, except for considerations hereinafter explained, the pressure of the fuel in chamber 12, referred to herein as metered fuel pressure B, will be maintained equal to control pressure A. In the event pressure B should tend to exceed pressure A the valve 13 will tend to open to allow the escape of additional fuel to the nozzle and consequent lowering of pressure B, and the reverse action will occur if B tends to be less than A. It is thus clear that the difference between pressure C and pressure B likewise will vary as the square of the engine speed for a given setting of valve |63.

As is generally known, the quantity of fuel which will flow through a given size metering orifice such as metering jet |34 will vary in proportion to the square root of the differential in pressures C and B on opposite sides of the orice, and since this differential varies as the square of the engine speed, it will be apparent that the quantity of fuel flowing through orifice |34 for a given setting of valve |68 will vary directly as the engine speed.

With the above described arrangement the j pilot or operator manually varies the position of valve |68 to control the quantity of fuel supplied to the burner and consequently the speed of engine. Thus should the pilot move the valve |68 in the closing or opening direction to obtain a selected speed, the engine will speed up or slow down to a speed corresponding to the rate of fuel feed set by the control lever |98.

The altitude control unit |42 is arranged so that valve is closed at sea level and as the airplane ascends the reduced air pressure on bellows |48 will result in expansion of said bellows and corresponding opening of valve |40. Opening of valve |40 results in an increase of pressure A which tends to urge valve 18 to a more nearly closed position thereby reducing the quantity of fuel supplied as is desired as the density of the air decreases with an increase in altitude. Descent of the plane causes valve |40 to move in the closing direction with a corresponding increase of fuel fiow past Valve 18. Thus compensation for variations in altitudes are automatically provided.

Provision may be made for enriching the idling fuel mixture as is desired. One means for effecting idle enrichment is to adjust valve 18 so that it is normally slightly open. Thus the fuel metering differential pressure required to balance the diaphragm assembly is increased. Then at low differential pressures, corresponding to idle operation, the arrangement is *of material effect in produci-ngda relatively largeincrease-in fuel now, thereby providing the-'desired rich` mixture at `Vidle. However at -high differential pressures the #arrangement has a negligible-effect'and has lsubstantially no effect on the richness vofthe lfuel mixture which is maintained at the -nor-mal -f-uel to `air ratio.

It is thought that the 'invention landfmany 'of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and Vit willbemunderstood that various changes may be madein the formfconstruotion and arrangement v`of the Vparts without departing from the spirit and scope of the finvention or sacrificing all of itsmaterial advantages, the embodiment'herein described bey,

ing'merely a preferred one.

l.- In -a fuel-supply system for a fgas turbine fenginehaving Va burner 'therein adapted to Areceive air under pressure: a-main conduit adapted to -deliver fuel from a source to said burner, rotary means in lsaid conduit for varying the `pressure of the fuel in said. conduit by an-'amount substantially proportional to the square of .'turbinespeed, and governor meansadapted'to regulatesaid speed by regulating the quantity of fuel `delivered by said conduit.

`v2. In *a fuel supply system for a gas vturbine engine rhaving la zburner ytherein adapted tore- "ceive air under pressure: la conduit adapted to deliver fuel from a source 'to said burner, rotary means for varying Vthe pressure -in said conduit by an amount substantially proportional to the 'square of turbine speed, a manually operated means adapted to regulate said speed by regulating the quantity of -fuel delivered by said conduit, a valvular means in said conduit for controlling -the ow of fuel, V'and a passageway for transmitting a control pressure developed by said rotary means to act on` said valvular means for influencing the function thereof.

f3. The invention defined in claim `2 including a means for varying the control pressure in accordance with variations in -barometric presl sure.

4.I The-finventio'ndenedin 'claim 2 wherein the valvular Ameans `for controlling the --ifuel flow is sl-ightlyppenfor idling and a Ameans -is Provided Aforclusing saidvalv-ular means to-'cut off-the -l'flo'w of fthe fuel 'to the engine.

5.1The-invention defined in Claim- 2 wherein the valvular means-for controlling the .fuel `flow includes yielding means AVAso adj usted 'that vthe valve `'is slightly open when the systemfisf finoperative and-means for closing said valve, `said `last -mentioned means being .controlleddby the manual means.

"6.-fIn a fuelsupply system rfor a gas turbine `engine vhaving a burner thereinfadaptedto yreceive air under pressure: a conduit adapted-to deliver-fuelfrom asource to Asaid burner,-rotary 5meansfor varying the pressureof the 'fuellin said yzcond-uit by an amount substantially proportional to the square ofthe speed of a -turbine,a passageway communicating with said conduit -oneither yeither sideiof fsaidv pump meansfa metering-jet disposed-in said 'conduit downstream of said passageway, a controlfvalve in saidponduit posterior to said metering jet lregulated by the pressure-in Asaid' passageway, a means adapted to-'cont-rolthe speed of 'said turbine'by Iregulating the pressure in said passageway,-and means to-:compensate for variations in barometric-pressure yby varying the pressure :in said passageway in accordancewith variations lin barometric pressure.

8,'In a fuel supply system vfor a gas'turbine engine having a burner therein adapted to re- -ceive air under pressure: a Vconduit adapted 'to deliver fuel from a source to said burner, a pump for varying the pressure of the fuelv `in said conduit by anvamount substantially proportional to thesquarefo'fthe speed of a turbine, a Amanually operated means adapted to regulate said `speed by regulating the -quantity of fuel delivered by said conduit,'a valvular means in said conduit for controlling the flow of fuel in said conduit, and a passageway for transmitting a control pressure developed by said pump to acton'said valvular means vfor influencing the function thereof.

'9. In a fuel supply system for a gas turbine engine having a burner therein adapted to receive air under pressure froma rotary aircompresser: a Aconduit adapted to deliver fuel from a source to said burner, a pumpadapted to vary thepressure of the fuel in said conduit by an amount substantially proportional to the square of the speed of a compressor, a passageway communicating with' said conduit oneither side of said pump, a metering jet disposediin said conduit downstream from said passageway; a control valve in said conduit posterior to said metering jet regulated by the pressure in Vsaid passageway, and amanually operated means. adapted to control the speedof saiditurbine by regulating the Ypressure in said passageway.

l0. The invention defined in claim 9 wherein the manually .operated means includes a valve, 'a diaphragm yto which the valve is attached, and means for subjecting the diaphragm to fuel pressurefor urging the same in ,the opening direction.

ll. The invention defined in claim 9 wherein there is a manuallyiucontrolled means for cutting off the supply of fuel to the burner by closing said control val-ves 12. In a fuel supply system for a gas turbine engine having na burner therein adapted to receive ,air ,under pressure from a rotary air cornpressor: a conduit adapted to deliver fuel from a souroeto said burner-, apump adapted to vary the4 pressure of the-fuel in said conduit by. an amounty substantially proportional l to the .square of the speed Yof a compressor, a'passag-eway communicating with said-conduiton either side-of saidpump, :a meteringwjet disposed insaidconduit downstream from said passageway, la `control'valve in saidconduit posterior to said metering `jet regulated by the pressure in said passageway, a manually operated means adapted to controlthe -speed vofsa'id turbine by regulating the pressure Yin said passageway, and means to compensate for variations in barometric pressure by varying the pressure in-said passageway in accordance with variations inthe barometric pressure;

13. In a fuel supply system for a gas turbine engine having a burner therein adapted to receive air under pressure from a rotary compressor and to receive fuel from said fuel supply system: a centrifugal impeller adapted to be driven by the engine, a fuel inlet passage for supplying fuel to the impeller, an outlet passage into which the impeller discharges fuel under a pressure Varying with variations in impeller speed, a metering orice in the outlet passage, a conduit connecting the outlet passage anterior to the metering orce to the inlet passage, three restrictions in said conduit, two of which are in parallel, a valve in the outlet passage posterior to the metering orifice responsive to the pressure in the conduit between said restrictions, a manually operated means for regulating the speed of said engine by varying the size of one of said parallel restrictions, and a mechanism responsive to variations in barometrie pressure for varying the size of the other of said parallel restrictions.

EMIL O. WIRTH. FREDERIK BARFOD.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 5 1,437,861 2,035,689 2,095,991 2,353,269 2,374,844 10 2,397,984 2,405,888 2,407,115 2,419,171 2,440,567 15 2,456,603 2,456,604 2,581,275

20 Number Name Date Porter Dec. 5, Bryant Mar. 31, Lysholm Oct. 19, Roth July 11, Stokes May 1, Schorn Apr. 9, Holley, Jr. Aug. 13, Udale Sept. 3, Simpson Apr. 15, Armstrong Apr. 27, Barford Dec. 14, Barfod et al. Dec. 14, Mock Jan. 1,

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain June 4,

References Cited in the le of this patent 

